Power operated pipe wrench



April 26, 1960 o. A. ADAMS POWER OPERATED PIPE WRENCH 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 28. 1957 van man

pzri 26, 11960 o. A. ADAMS POWER OPERATED PIPE WRENCH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed O01. 28, 1957 A. Adams 1N VEN TOR pw 26, 1960 o. A. ADAMS 393399@ POWER OPERATED PIPE WRENCH Filed Oct. 28, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheewl 3 2 Orville A. Adams INVENTOK United States Patent 2,933,961 POWER OPERATED PIPE WRENCH Orville A. Adams, Clifton, Tex. Application October 28, 1957, Serial No. 692,715 11 Claims. (Cl. 81-53) This invention comprises a novel and useful electric portable power tongs and more particularly relates to electrically operated make up and break out power tongs specically ladapted for use in the assembly and disassembly of sections of casings or tubings for deep wells and especially for wells of the type commonly employed in connection with the drilling and the operation of oil and gas wells and the like.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a power operated electric tongs especially adapted for use with oil wells and the like which shall be more certain in its operation, may be easily adapted for handling diierent sizes of casings; all types of tubular articles such as drill pipes, drill collars, oil well casings and tubings; shall provide a compact power operating means therefor conveniently mounted upon and carried by the tongs; and shall, insofar as possible, fully and completely enclose the operating and working mechanism of the device.

A finther object of the invention is to provide a tongs having improved means for gripping a tubular member to be rotated by the tongs, together with an effective means which will permit access through the annular rotary member of the tongs to enable the same to be applied to or removed from casings and pipes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power operating casing tongs in accordance with the preceding objects wherein the driving means for transmitting power to the tongs shall be so arranged as to apply the driving power to circumferentially spaced portions of the periphery of the annular rotatable tubular article.

And a final important object of the invention to be specifically enumerated herein resides in the provision of a power operated tongs as set forth in the above mentioned objects in which the article gripping means shall be readily interchangeable and renewable as required; and shall be mounted in an improved manner in the rotatable driving means for the casing engaging jaws.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in horizontal plan showing an embodiment incorporating therein the principles of this invention, certain concealed parts being shown in dot and dash lines therein, and `an alternative position of certain parts of the device being shown in dash lines in order to illustrate the mounting in which the device may be applied to or removed from a casing or pipe section;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional detail view taken on an enlarged scale substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3 3 of Figure 2 and illustrating in particular the manner in which the jaws of the tongs are actuatable for gripping a casing or pipe therebetween;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4-4 of Figure l and upon an enlarged scale, and showing a portion of the driving mechanism for the tongs;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional detail View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5--5 of Figure 4 and showing a portion of the bearing means for one of the driving elements of the device;

Figure 6 is a group assembly view in perspective of certain elements of the jaw assembly of the tongs, parts being broken away; and,

Figure 7 is a plan View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 7-7 of Figure 2.

In the accompanying drawings, reference is made first to Figure 1 which shows the general construction of the portable electrically operated tong assembly in accordance with this invention. In this View there is shown a casing or case of any suitable construction, designated generally by the numeral 10, and which has the laterally elongated portion 12 comprising the handle portion of the tongs which is provided with a hand grip member or handle 14. Mounted upon this case in any suitable manner is an electric motor 16 of any conventional type which serves as a power source for power operation of the jaws of the tongs as set forth hereinafter. At the other end of the case 10 from the handle 14 there is provided a generally circular chamber 18 therein, which as shown in Figure 2 is lgenerally U-shaped in cross section and is annular or ring-shaped, having annular top and bottom walls 20 and 22 together with an exterior circular end wall 24, the circular interior ofthe U-shaped case being hollow to provide therethrough an aperture adapted to receive a pipe section such as a casing 26 with which the tool is to be used.

Iournalled in the chamber of this case for rotary movement is an annulus 3l? which as shown in Figure 3 has an axial opening 32 therethrough for receiving the previously mentioned section 26 of a pipe or well casing. As indicated in dot and dash lines at 34 in Figure l, the cylindrical or circular case having the chamber 18 therein is provided with a circumferentially extending hinged section having a handle 36 thereon whereby this section may be opened or closed, the annulus 30 in turn having a circumferentially extending hinged section 38. The hinged case and annular sections may be pivoted to open position, as indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig-Y ure 1 or to permit passage of the casing or pipe section 26 into and out of the alined aperture and opening passing through the interior of the case top and bottom walls 20 and 22, and through the opening 32 of the annulus. Thus, the tool may be applied to or removed from a well casing or pipe which is to be rotated by the power means including the motor 16 forming a part of this tool.

As will be best apparent from Figure 2, the exterior circumference of the `annulus 30 is provided with external teeth comprising a ring gear 40 by means of which in a matter to be subsequently set forth rotation is imparted to the annulus. Conveniently, the annulus is journalled in the U-shaped annular case 18 by means of annular grooves 42 and 44 formed in the opposite faces of the annulus and into which bolts 46 and 4S respectively extend to thereby position and mount the annulus for rotation.

A drive means is provided for operatively connecting the electric motor 16 to the ring gear 4.0 of the annulus, this drive means including a pair of divergent shafts each designated by the numeral 50, and as shown in Figure 4, having thereon a worm gear 52 secured together as by key 51 received in keyways 53 and 55 in the shaft and gear. The worm gears mesh with the ring gear 40 at circumferentially spaced positions thereon whereby to divide the driving torque in its application to the annulus.

The' shafts 50 are journaled in suitable brackets S4 and 56 which are mounted upon a portion of the case 10, suitable bearing assemblies 53 for the bracket 54 and'60 land 62 for the bracket 56 being provided to journal these shafts. At their convergent ends, Vthe shafts 50 are provided with bevel gears 64, each of which meshes with :an idler bevel gear 66 in turn driven by the bevel gear 68, see Figure l, carried by the shaft of'ethe drivingY motor 16. l

At this point it should be observed that there is provided a locking means for retaining the hinged annulus section 3S in its closed position. For this purpose the section 3S upon its face which is adjacent to the rest of the annulus 39 is provided with a bore 70 therein into which extends a latch retainer 72 screw-threadedly carried by the annulus 30. This retainer is provided with a latch notch 74 which is positionedfor engagement by a cylindrical latch 76 slidably received in a bore 78 formed in the section 3S, and urged as by a spring 80 into latching engagement with the notch 74 in the retainer 72. Extending to the exterior of the annulus is a manually actuated latch actuating lever 82 pivoted as at 84 to the section 33 and having a pivotal connection as at S6 with the latch 76. lt will thus be apparent that the latch 78 engages the keeper 72 so as to retain the section 38 in its closed operative position, the spring 80 yurging the latch into such position. Upon actuation of the manual lever 82, the latch may be withdrawn permitting the section 38 to be hingedly moved to open position when lit is desired to apply the device to or remove the same from a pipe or article with which the tongs are to be employed. Y I

Cooperating with the opening in the annulus are a pluralityI of jaw means adapted to grip a pipe or other article 26 in order to impart rotation thereto when the annulus is caused to revolve by4 the power actuating mechanism thereof. It is contemplated that these jaw means may be interchangeable whereby to enable the tongs to be employed upon tubular articles of different diameters.

Referring now especially to Figures 2, 3 and 6, for the details of the jaw means,V and to Figure 1' for the relative position of the jaw means upon the annulus, it will be seen that each member of the jaw means comprises a holder 9d which is generally U-shaped,.includ ing a pair of parallel mounting flanges 92 and 94 adapted to embrace slidaoly the opposite sides of the Iannulus upon the inner periphery of the same, together with a central or web portion 96 having thereon an undercut groove 98. This groove serves to receive a correspondingly shaped mounting ange 100 carried by the platelike jaws 162, each of which has sets of radially inwardly projecting serrated ribs 104 comprising teeth. Obvious- 1y, by replacing the jaws and/or holders with others of appropriate size, the tongs may be adapted to rotate different sizes of pipe or tubualr articles. The jaw members are pivotally connected together by a series of links 166 which at their opposite ends Vare provided with pivot pins 108 received in alined apertures 110 in the mounting flanges 92 and 94 of the holders, whereby the series of holders and the jaw members carried thereby are retained in circumferentially spacedy relation in the opening of the annulus and about the tubular section 26. There are also provided a second set of alined bores 110 disposed centrally through the anges 92 and 94, for the reception of a pin 1142 by means of which a roller 114 is journalled upon eachY of the holders. Each roller comprises part of a jaw'actuating means, cooperating with a plurality of cam surfaces 1.16 provided upon the inner surface of the fannulus within its axial opening. The arrangement is such that upon rotation of the annulus, the surfaces 116 whichare not arcuate, in relation to the axis of rotation of the annulus wiil cause by their cam action on the rollers 114,'the ra- Y Y r4 dial movement of the holder and jaws inwardly to cause the serrated ribs 104 to grip the pipe 26 as shown clearly in Figure 3. During this action, it will be observed that the links 106 retain the jaw members in proper circumferentially spaced relation. Y

An electromagnet or permanent magnet 111 is secured to a link 106 and serves to hold the jaw members in place until they engage the pipeY as previously mentioned.

In order to .prevent disengagement of and removal of the holders from the annulus, a retaining means is provided. This retaining'means, as will be best apparent trom a comparison of Figures l and 2, consists of arcuate grooves 120 in one surface of the annulus into which extend retaining pins 122 mounted in bores 124, see Figure 6, of the fiange 92 of the holder. The pins 122 thus permit limited circumferential movement of theA holders and their jaws with respect to the annulus, but prevent radial movement of the holders out of engagement with the annulus, while the links preserve the desired circumferential spacing of the'set of holders and jaws.

By a suitable enclosing cover disposed over the case portion 12, all of the driving means which connect the motor 16 to the annulus may be completely enclosed, thereby protecting the moving parts of the device against ingress of foreign matter, permitting better lubrication of the same and thereby contributes to the effectiveness, durability and safety of use ofthe tongs.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable electrically operated tong assembly comprising a casing-having a chamber with a pipe receiving aperture therethrough, an annulus rotatably mounted in said chamber and having a pipe receiving opening therein alined with said aperture, jaw means mounted upon said annulus in said opening for gripping a pipe, actuating means carried by said annulus and cooperating with said jaw means and causing radial movement of the latter into pipe engaging and releasing positions upon rotation of said annulus, an electric motor mounted on said casing, driving means operatively connecting said motor to said annulus at circumferentially spaced positions thereon.

2. The combination of claim l wherein said casing and annulus have hinged sections enabling passage of a pipe through said casing and annulus into and out of said aperture and opening.

3, The combination of claim 1 wherein said casing and annulus have hinged sections enabling passage of aV pipe through said casing and annulus Vinto and out of said aperture and opening, means for locking said hinged section of said annulus in its closed position.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said annulus has gear teeth comprising an external ring gear upon its periphery, said driving means engaging said ring gear.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein'said driving means comprises a pair of'shafts having worm gears each engaging said ring gear, means on said casing journaling said shafts, gearing connecting said electric motor to each of said shafts.

Y 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein said jaw means comprises a plurality of holders, a jaw for each holder including pipe gripping teeth, means mounting each holder on said'annulus for sliding movement thereon, means mounting each jaw on a holder.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said jaw means comprises a plurality ofholders, a jaw for cach holder including pipe gripping teeth, means mounting each holder on said annulus for sliding movement there.-

on, means mounting each jaw on a holder, links pivotally securing said holders in spaced relation circumferentially of said opening.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said jaw means comprises a plurality of holders, a jaw for each holder including pipe gripping teeth, means mounting each holder on said annulus for sliding movement thereon, means mounting each jaw on a holder, said actuating means including a roller on each holder, cam surfaces on the circumference of said opening operatively engaging said rollers.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said jaw means comprises a plurality of holders, a jaw for each holder including pipe gripping teeth, means mounting each holder on said annulus for sliding movement thereon, means mounting each jaw on a holder, said holder mounting means comprising anges slidably engaging opposite sides of said annulus.

10. The combination of claim 1 wherein said jaw means comprises a plurality of holders, a jaw for each holder including pipe gripping teeth, means mounting each holder on said annulus for sliding movement thereon, means mounting each jaw on a holder, retaining means preventing disengagement of said holders from said annulus.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said jaw means comprises a plurality of holders, a jaw for each holder including pipe gripping teeth, means mounting each holder on said annulus for sliding movement thereon, means mounting each jaw on a holder, retaining means preventing disengagement of said holders from said annulus, said retaining means comprising grooves in said annulus and pins on said holders slidably received in said grooves` References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,566,561 Edelberg Sept. 4, 1951 2,566,999 Stone Sept. 4, 1951 2,576,203 Wilson Nov. 27, 1951 2,580,680 Hillman Ian. 1, 1952 2,764,048 Thompson Sept. 25, 1956 

